Gait asymmetry in community-ambulating stroke survivors.

Abstract

To determine the prevalence and severity of asymmetry among independently ambulating stroke survivors and to establish the association between velocity and asymmetry. Descriptive analysis. Research gait laboratory in a Canadian hospital. Community-dwelling, independently ambulating participants (N=54) with chronic stroke. Not applicable. Overground gait velocity, symmetry ratios for temporal and spatial step parameters, and motor impairment of the foot and leg. Spatiotemporal parameters were collected with a pressure-sensitive mat. Motor impairment was measured clinically with the Chedoke-McMaster Stroke Assessment. Thirty (55.5%) participants showed statistically significant temporal asymmetry and 18 (33.3%) exhibited statistically significant spatial asymmetry. Preferred velocity was negatively associated with temporal asymmetry (r=-.583, df=52, P<.001) but not spatial asymmetry (r=-.146, df=52, P=.29). Temporal asymmetry was also associated with motor recovery of the leg (r=-.644, df=35, P<.001) and foot (r=-.628, df=35, P<.001). The results of the current study illustrate that temporal asymmetry can be found in many independently ambulating stroke patients. The work highlights the need for a standard assessment of poststroke gait symmetry in light of the complex relationship with motor impairment and velocity.